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Researchers have engineered an innovative edible coating utilizing pectin, agarose, and coconut oil that extends the postharvest shelf life of King mandarins from 6 to 21 days at an ambient temperature of 20 °C. Within this biopolymer film system, coconut oil functions as a natural co-plasticiser, significantly enhancing the material's flexibility, UV-shielding capabilities, and water-barrier performance.
The development is driven by escalating environmental concerns and the critical need to mitigate postharvest losses, which can account for up to 40% of total crop yields in developing nations. While pectin and agarose are promising biopolymers, their blends are often brittle, and traditional plasticisers like glycerol tend to increase moisture sensitivity. The study addresses these flaws by combining glycerol with coconut oil (CO) in a pectin/agarose/glycerol (PAG) matrix, employing polysorbate 80 as an emulsifier to ensure a homogeneous lipid distribution.
Technical validations including Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and mechanical assessments confirmed the plasticising efficacy of coconut oil. The medium-chain fatty acids present in the oil act as internal lubricants, effectively reducing intermolecular interactions and enhancing chain mobility within the polymer framework.
Industry professionals can explore further advancements at the Sustainable Coatings Conference, scheduled for 3–4 November 2026 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. The event will focus on low-carbon technologies, circular economy strategies, and bio-based systems, highlighting how sustainability is evolving from a regulatory requirement into a measurable business advantage through tools like Life Cycle Assessment (LCA).
The integration of coconut oil notably improved the film's barrier properties, increasing surface hydrophobicity while decreasing moisture content and water vapour permeability. UV-shielding was exceptionally high, with UV-C transmittance reaching approximately 0%. The authors conclude that this CO-integrated PAG system offers an attractive, eco-sustainable strategy for fruit preservation and serves as a viable renewable alternative to petroleum-derived packaging in the global food industry.
Source: Progress in Organic Coatings